Comments: The first bartender left after I placed the order, not sure if there was some confusion or the end of a shift. I placed the order again with the second bartender. He told me its not an Old Fashioned if it doesn’t have a cherry. His interpretation was shaken, mostly ice, and served with a straw. This is a perfect example of why this drink can’t be ordered just anywhere. The bartender was competent and I am sure well-trained. But, I bet he has never actually tasted this drink. It stands in sharp contrast to Gramercy Tavern, Mas Farmhouse, or Little Branch where you taste something special. Best to stick to beers here.

Comments: This establishment, similar to the Gramercy Tavern, is the perfect drinking experience. I started with a traditional Sazerac with Old Overholt. The bartender took his time to expertly prepare this multi-step cocktail as you would for a friend. Later, I ordered the Old Fashioned. Large glass, lots of ice, with no fruit — instead he used ground vanilla bean which can be seen in the photo. While not my favorite mix, I appreciated the experimentation. We chatted about technique and Banana Jamesons. Cocktails were well priced and the food was excellent.

Comments: Perfect experience from a top-notch bartender. He asked my preference for fruit and recommended Old Overholt Rye instead of Makers Mark. He added three brandied cherries, bitters and a sugar cube and then carefully mashed with a pestle. Stirred not shaken. The rye was spicer and less sweet than the bourbon, also perhaps due to the use of sugar instead of simple syrup. Delicious, more complex, and earthy.